By Mariko Lamb, Talk Radio News Service

Brigadier General Michael Walsh, Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, informed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee the goal of providing hurricane protection and coastal restoration in Louisiana is on track.

In his testimony, Walsh said, “the system is stronger and more resilient than prior to Katrina or any other time in history”.

Despite Walsh’s assurance of visible progress, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) argued that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had failed to properly focus on rebuilding the canal walls.

“We are choosing the wrong fix for the biggest thing that went wrong that caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans,” said Vitter.

According to Walsh, closing off poorly-designed canal walls at the lake and artificially maintaining low water levels instead would be more effective than attempting to rebuild the walls.

Walsh and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are currently collaborating efforts with academic, industrial, architectural, and international partners in the area to establish a “reliable storm-surge risk reduction system to meet the needs of southeast Louisiana”. Walsh stated that it would be their number one priority.

Brigadier General Michael Walsh, Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that $1.2 billion is going directly toward helping small and disadvantaged businesses recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina (0:56)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today in a press conference Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) thanked actor Brad Pitt for his work and dedication to the people of New Orleans with his “Make it Right”foundation. The foundation’s mission is: “it is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.”

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says the evacuation of New Orleans before Hurricane Gustav was better than the evacuation before Hurricane Katrina. (0:41)

 

 Standard Podcast [(0:41)m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) held a discussion on the effects of climate change on Gulf Coast transportation and the New York City water supply. Michael Savonis, the air quality team leader of the Federal Highway Administration, said that those working in transportation are frequently conservative because of the billions of dollars involved, so considerations of investing in climate change preparation are tentative. But, as transportation infrastructure ages, climate change must be considered in building new roads, bridges, railways, and ports. The effects of climate change in the Gulf Coast area include a rise in average temperature between two and four degrees and a 50 percent increase in days with temperatures over 90 degrees. He said that as a result more than 2400 miles of roadways in the Gulf Coast area are at risk of permanent flooding as well as 75 percent of freight and non-freight port facilities. Because of the increase in heat, asphalt wears faster, train rails buckle more, and aircraft performance decreases. (more…)

The House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the Committee on Financial Services held a hearing to assess the implementation of Community Development Block Grant funds for post-Hurricane Katrina reconstruction among the states impacted along the Gulf Coast.
(more…)